A former childcare worker, Ashley Paul Griffith, has been charged with more than 200 new child abuse offences in New South Wales. These significant new charges follow his recent extradition from Queensland. He is already serving a life sentence there for similar horrific crimes.
Griffith, 48, faced a NSW court on Friday morning. However, he did not appear during the bail hearing. The matter was formally refused bail and then adjourned until January.
New South Wales Police allege Griffith sexually abused 23 children. These alleged offences occurred while he worked in Sydney’s inner west between July 2014 and December 2017. The children involved were reportedly between one and five years old.
The 202 new charges include 68 counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10. Furthermore, there are 42 counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with a child under 10. He also faces 23 counts of producing child abuse material and aggravated indecent assault charges related to children.
Griffith was extradited from Queensland to NSW on Wednesday. He was subsequently arrested at Silverwater Correctional Facility on Friday morning. In Queensland, he received a life sentence after admitting offences against 69 girls in early learning centres across Brisbane and Italy over two decades.
Detective Superintendent Linda Howlett, commander of the Child Sex Abuse Squad, described the allegations as “horrific.” She expressed hope that the new charges would bring “some sort of closure” for the victims and their families. Moreover, she highlighted the prolonged nature of the alleged abuse.
The investigation into these Sydney-based allegations began in November 2022. The NSW Police State Crime Command’s Child Abuse Squad and the Australian Federal Police conducted a “lengthy and complex investigation.” This involved a forensic examination of thousands of digital files and extensive victim identification inquiries.
Legal aid lawyer Bethany Burns did not apply for bail on Griffith’s behalf. Judge Daniel Covington officially refused bail. Griffith will remain in NSW until the conclusion of these legal proceedings.
